NEWS FROM THE EAST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 166, 14 July 1903, Page 5

NEWS FROM THE EAST.

From files to hand from Japan and China the following items have been taken: A Japanese report from Port Arthur states that. 20,000 tons of coal are stored there at presen., and 40,000 tons at Dalny. The Russian authorities intend to store 300,000 or 400,000 tons of coal at these ports. At the last call of the Tairen Maru at Port Arthur there were ten coal carriers in that port, of which three vessels were British, loaded with Cardiff coal. A large number of junks were also in the port, and these were all loaded with bay and provender for horses. The Russian warships, which were formerly anchored inside the harbour (according to the information received on board the Tairen Maru) had all removed to anchorages outside the harbour. Four torpedo destroyers are in course of equipment at present, and three, others are in course of construction. One warship was in dock.

According to a oeoul despatch, dated 12th inst., the occupation of 30,000 Ch,i T nese who are engaged in felling timber on the Yalu is in jeopardy. These men are making about seven million taels every year. The Russians are said to be trying to take the business into their own bands.

Three thousand coolies passed through Tientsin on May 15, engaged for the Maneburian railway. They carried Russian flags.

It is rumoured that, it is the intention of the Government to form a volunteer corps among the Straits-born Chinese in Solangor. which may probably extend to the other States, on the same line as now exist in Singapore.

A company, confined principally to Chinese, has been formed in Hongkong, with a capital of 500,000 dollars, for the purchase of about 5000 acres of land from the North Borne,-. Company. The object, of the company is to utilise the forests on the land and bring the trees to Hongkong.

A Canton message to the Hongkong lelegr;:ph'' states: Several men" have been surveying the city for ths purpose of making an accurate map. At least this is what the men say they are after. The Chinese, however, do not re<mrd the surveying in this light. One rumour is that an elevated railroad is to be built over the city. This, the Chinese say. will destroy the "fungshui" of the place", and calamity is sure to follow. Another rumour is that the railroad directors are going to cut a road through the city. Of course there is no truth in these i»_mours. but they make the Chinese "uneasy, and the Chinese are just in a condition to be disturbed by any rumour. There are rumours of trouble floating about, and any rumour, however absurd, finds many to give it credence.

The China "Gazette"' relates that on the afternoon of May 17 the neighbourhood of Boone-road, Shanghai, was converted into a regular battlefield by a number of drunken Russian men-o'-warsmen, who fell foul of seven or eight -American and two British tars. During the height of the melee things were very lively, and the inmates of the neighbouring houses were kept, busy dodging flying missiles. The police made no arrests. Later in the afternoon several inebriated Rooskies invaded the Public Garden and rolled around in hilarious intoxication, which not even the torrential rains could damp. But they did not meet anyone to fall foul of, and soon got tired of such aii unpromising spot.

A German steamer was recently chartered by the Port" Arthur authorities, and with several officers on board made for the Yalu river. Upon arrival the captain and officers were politely invited to go below to their eabins.| In the meantime, with instruments, angles and bearings were taken, positions located, and* so forth. The vessel immediately afterwards returned to Port Arthur. The captain of the steamer refused to accept a second offer under similar conditions.

The "Naval and Military Record" mentions that Admiral Sir Gerard Noel is spoken of as likely to get the next command of the China Station. He is now SS. and as long ago as 1873 commanded tlie naval guard to Lord Wolseley during the Ashantee campaign of that year, having previously obtained a first-class certificate, as a gunnery lieutenant. He became a Naval Lord just ten years since, and following on his service in the Mediterranean (when he handled the Cretan difficulty so tactfully) succeeded Sir Compton Domville as Admiral-Super-intendent of Naval Reserves in 1900.

Mr Gresham (Coroner) arranged to hold two inquests at the Avondale Asylum this afternoon, on a male and female patient.